Teddy (Jesse Plemons) who works as a packer in a factory, and his mentally handicapped cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) are planning to save the world. In order to do so, the two are planning on kidnapping the head of a gigantic corporation that Teddy also works for. Teddy is certain that she’s an alien who is planning on destroying the world. Michelle (Emma Stone) is a very confident, successful woman with both martial arts and marketing skills. Teddy and Don are poor, grimy losers who live in the decrepit house of Teddy’s absent mother and seem to be sinking deeper and deeper into madness.

Michelle does end up captive in Teddy and Don’s basement. The ever-present, looming question is whether she could possibly be an alien despite all the contradictory signs, whether this is a metaphor for the destructive energy of corporate power, or whether Teddy is a crazy conspiracy theorist. Michelle could be an alien, she could also not be an alien, but dangerous, and she could be an innocent entrepreneur. But are the crazy conspiracy theorists interesting enough for a Lanthimos movie? Something was done to Teddy and Don, but what does that have to do with Michelle?

Teddy and Don are on a losing streak no matter what. They have nothing to gain, whether Michelle is an alien or not. Ultimately, BUGONIA, as funny as the film is in many scenes, is about the desperation of not being able to stop a development. This certainly reflects the current zeitgeist – on more than one level.

Tom Dorow

Translation: Elinor Lewy